NBA Week 18 Overview
As the NBA season progresses into Week 18, basketball fans and fantasy managers gear up for an intense sprint toward the playoffs following the All-Star break. This week features a burst of action with an initial light Monday that showcases only three games; however, subsequent days will see a plethora of matchups including a whopping 11 games on Tuesday and 10 on Thursday. While some teams are dwindling hopes for playoff positioning and eyeing the draft lottery, others remain fervently in contention for playoff spots, including potential play-in tournament candidates.
Week 18 Game Breakdown
- Four Games: Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs
- Three Games: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards
- Two Games: Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns
Back-to-Back Scheduling in Week 18
- Sunday-Monday (Week 19): Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks
- Tuesday-Wednesday: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors
- Wednesday-Thursday: Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs
- Thursday-Friday: Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks
- Saturday-Sunday: Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers
Key Storylines to Monitor
Clippers and Suns’ Limited Action: Fantasy managers should be cautious with players from the Los Angeles Clippers early in the week. With merely two games slated for them, any non-star players won’t be actionable until later, and there’s hope for the return of key stars like Kawhi Leonard (ankle) and John Collins (head/neck). Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns, struggling with injuries, are set to play on Tuesday and Thursday. Devin Booker (hip) is out for Week 18, and the team sustained further injuries to Dillon Brooks and Jordan Goodwin. Fantasy implications arise with players like Collin Gillespie gaining value in their absence, despite the Suns’ unfavorable weeks ahead.
Busy Schedule for Nets, Lakers, Pelicans, and Others: A handful of teams will feature prominently in the latter days of Week 18, specifically the Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Portland Trail Blazers. The Nets and Mavericks have their eyes on the draft for future improvements, while the Lakers and Trail Blazers are locked in a struggle for playoff positioning. Health will play a critical role, particularly for the Trail Blazers, who are still working through injuries affecting key players like Deni Avdija and Robert Williams.
